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There are currently 25 member reviews
for Fireflies in Winter
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Peggy H. (Erie, PA)
Love Comes in Many Forms
This historical novel brings to light a period of time following the American Revolution, when there were four classes of dark-skinned people living in Nova Scotia (other than indigenous): slaves, freed slaves, indentured servants, and Maroons from Jamaica. The author has created a diverse cast of characters that include examples of each, backstories, and reactions to the harsh landscape, creating an intriguing narrative. The principal characters are Cora and Agnes. As the story progresses, we learn more about the origins and motivations of each. The book is a sensitive vision of a forgotten period of history with believable characters shaped by tragic events. Yet love prevails in many forms.
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Rebecca
Oh, this book
This is the story of Cora and Agnes. Cora is a free black woman part of a group called the Maroon who travel to Nova Scotia to escape the war and oppression in Jamaica. Agnes is also a free black woman though at first her path to freedom is unclear. Although they live different lives, Cora in a home, in a community and Agnes living alone in the forest, they find each other. As a result, they find love, a love that survives tragedy and prejudice. Reading this book ran the gamut of emotions for me. Despair at the cruelty of men, both black and white. Frustration at choices made. Sadness at a needless death. Happiness at the kindness of one man who could walk away. Hope and love for these two women who fight against all odds to be together and the odds are truly great. It’s an amazing story and one I won’t soon forget
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Jean F (Cary, NC)
A Story of Love, Power & Freedom
Fireflies in Winter is a beautiful novel set in Canada, at the end of the 18th century. Cora is part of a community of Maroons, exiles from Jamaica, who share space with former slaves and others. Fleeing the pressures of that life, she escapes to the shadowy woods where she connects with Agnes, another young woman.
Shearer graphically depicts the beauty and the hardships of living in hiding in the woods, particularly during the harsh winters. She delicately reveals the growing trust and developing relationship between Cora and Agnes. These women are not literate, but they possess depths of feeling and enhanced sensitivity to the creatures and the environment around them. Much of what has marked each woman in her past remains sketchy or unknown; always there are undertones relating to who is free and what freedom really means in daily life.
I loved the appearance of the whales and liked how rounded a character the dog Patience is. I was also drawn to Thursday and his quiet caring ways. A brief header note about the Maroons, previously unknown to me, would have enriched my reading experience. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and book clubs.
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Barbara B. (Harlingen, TX)
Fireflies In winter
A reader who truly loves books I sometimes wonder if authors simply change the names of characters and locations and rewrite the same story over and over.
Eleanor Shearer has written an original story. She tells the piquant tale of 2 young black women in1796 Halifax as they find answers to the questions: what is friendship, what is love, what is freedom, who is free.. Cora and Agnes survive the harsh winters and eagerly await the return of the humpback whales in the spring.
While the book is fiction it has historical background. Free black people from Jamacia did try to settle in Canada.
I was delighted to be unable to predict the progress and ending of this novel.. You will be too.
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Donna D. (Riverside, IL)
Beautiful Relationships
I enjoyed reading this book. I believe it's strength comes from the excellent writing, most particularly, the description of the evolution of the story of Agnes and Cora. It is wrapped in wonder and discovery yet grounded in the difficulties of their environment.
One of the things that draws me to historical fiction is discovering hidden or little known history. In this case we are learning some of the history around uprisings in Jamaica and the Maroons who settle in Canada. In addition the community also includes free blacks and run away slaves. The secrets, relationships and conflicts within that community is yet another example of the author's ability to capture the essence or the many complex interactions. However, I feel this historical context was not well developed. I found myself looking to other historical sources to fill in the blanks. Of course one might view that in a positive light in that it piqued my curiosity! Please read this book.
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Stephanie G. (Tega Cay, SC)
Unusual Love Story
This is a unique story of love set in a unique setting. I didn't have much background on this author and topic. I love when a book teaches you something you weren't aware of and uses fiction. This was my introduction to the Jamaica Maroons. This story is well written and addresses various types of love.. Mother/Daughter, Mother/Son, Lovers, Friends, and even love of dogs. While I'm hesitant to read stories that are overtly sexual, this is NOT that. It is a real love story with true elements of joy and heartbreak.
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Tammy F. (Redding, CA)
A Piece of History
This book was a piece of history that I didn't know much about. The history of the Jamaican Maroons. The story touches on post-slavery freedom that is not really true freedom. It's a great story about friendship and survival.
